Phone service provider hands out laptops to New Mexico students

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Local students got some new technology just in time for the school year.

The Albuquerque School of Excellence is one of 34 schools joining the Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) Program across the nation and the first one here in New Mexico.

The program aims to make students and their classrooms "future-ready" by investing roughly $2.3 million into every participating school.

The VIL Program partners with the nonprofit "Digital Promise" to provide free tech, free internet access, and STEM experiences to students without the necessary resources. The program also offers device training to teachers.

More than 650 laptops were handed out to students and their families at the event.